Temperatures climbed to 62 degrees Saturday - a record-high
temperature on the first day of winter, and just a week after a snow storm - as
last-minute shoppers hit Staten Island retail spots in short sleeves and
sunglasses instead of coats and scarves.

And if you've yet to get your shopping done - there's
only three days left - never fear,the walk from your spot in the back of the
crowded parking lot to the front door of your favorite store. Temperatures will
be unseasonably warm again Sunday: A high of 70 degrees is possible, according
to Accuweather meteorologist John Dlugoenski.

"It's amazing. The first day of winter, first week of
winter, is just unbelievably warm. And ironic -- considering how cold it was
before that," Dlugoenski said.

The record high for Sunday is 63 degrees - which
Dlugeonski said was sure to be broken.

"That record is what we call a sitting duck," he cracked.

There may be some scattered showers, Dlugoenski said, and it
will be windy, with gusts of 20 to 30 miles per hour. But if the sun peaks out,
it could be even warmer than 70 degrees.

"Unfortunately it's not going to last too long," he said.

Dreaming of a white Christmas? Keep dreaming. While it'll
get colder, there won't be precipitation later this week.

"There's not much of a shot at all at this point,"
Dlugoenski said. "It's going to be cold on Christmas day, but not snowy,
unfortunately."

But for most shoppers yesterday - on what is often one of
the busiest shopping days of the season - the weather was just perfect.

--

"I'm happy about it," Sal Scozzari, who wore a short-sleeve
shirt, said of Saturday's weather. "All the snow gets melted off the property,
and you get to do some shopping without the heavy coats on."

Scozzari was looking for gifts for his girlfriend when he
ran into his sister-in-law, Terri Scozzari, of Dongan Hills. Both were shopping
at Hylan Commons on New Dorp Lane.

"I had to sneak out on my girlfriend, because she's always
with me," he said.

Ms. Scozzari was also not yet finished with her shopping.

"I'm running to another store from here," she said.

---

Shameeza Inshan of South Beach waited for the bus after
shopping at Hylan Commons and elsewhere in New Dorp with her children, Anthony,
7, and Vanessa, 6.

It didn't feel like there were only a few days until
Christmas.

"It doesn't, because it's so hot," she said. "The weather is
actually perfect."

Unlike most winter shopping trips, there was no need to lug
around a coat, scarf and gloves, she said. And the sales were good, too.

"I actually spent less than I thought I would," she said.

--

At the Staten Island Mall, the parking lot was jammed with
people making their last minute mad-dash to get the shopping done, even thought
it felt like an entirely different season.

"It's like spring," David Vento of Oakwood said.

He was shopping at the Staten Island Mall with his son,
David, 13, and daughter, Nicole, 16.

And he wasn't alone.

"The crowds were pretty large - we waited on line for an
hour at two stores, jewelry stores," Vento said.

They were waiting for Alex and Ani bracelets - a hot item
this season, the designers name was on the lips of many people heading into the
mall.

While it might seem last minute, this is when the Ventos
usually grab their gifts.

"Actually, we're early this year," Vento said.

--

No matter the weather, Jeannine Carandola of Annadale was
going to hit the mall today - also in search of Alex and Ani bracelets. She
waited half an hour in line to purchase them.

And while she was heading back to her car as snow melted in
the mall's parking lot, she wasn't done.

"Sometime tonight I'll go, when the kids are in bed, because
Toys R Us is open 24 hours," she said.

That's what it takes, she said, to maintain the Christmas
morning surprise.